Two historians claim quilts may have contained encoded messages for enslaved people looking to escape through the Underground Railroad. Though others disagree, it is an intriguing idea.
Category Archives: A New Birth of Freedom
The First Pride Marches, In Photos
The struggle for Gay rights took many forms in the late 1900s, though their goals were the same: equality and acceptance. Look at photos of some of the first Pride parades and learn the history of how modern Pride celebrations came to be.
Descendants of Chinese Laborers Reclaim Railroad’s History
The first transcontinental railroad transformed America and came to symbolize a new spirit of unity and cooperation. Yet for decades after its completion, the Chinese workers who made the railroad’s construction possible were overlooked. Recently, steps have been taken to remedy this historical injustice.
Where the Buffalo No Longer Roamed
Though the Transcontinental Railroad made transportation of goods and people across the country much more convenient, there were a number of negative results, including the decimation of the buffalo population and war with Native American tribes.
Why celebrating Juneteenth is more important now than ever
Juneteenth celebrates when enslaved people in the deep Confederacy finally learned of their freedom years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Read the article to learn more about the holiday and America’s history of oppression.
The Bold Accomplishments of Women of Color Need to Be a Bigger Part of Suffrage History
Uncover the hidden stories of the suffrage movement from women who faced bias and marginalization during their lives and whose legacies still fight to overcome those same hurdles.
The Underground Railroad
Explore significant stops along the Underground Railroad on this interactive map.
National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage
Read about the history of opposition to women’s suffrage and view historical documents and images pertaining to the issue in this resource from the National Women’s History Museum.
Can these descendents of enslaved Africans save their unique culture?
The Gullah Geechee’s culture and way of life is threatened by gentrification and land development. Customs such as fishing and basket weaving are at risk of being lost.
“Slaves of the Marriage Union”
This article profiles Elizabeth Packard, a woman forced into an insane asylum by her husband during the Civil War. After her release, she became a women’s rights activist who argued that the condition of women was similar to slavery.
The Hopeful, Heartbreaking Ads Placed by Formerly Enslaved People in Search of Lost Family
In an effort to connect with separated family members, many freedpeople turned to newspaper advertisements after emacipation.
The Tragic Roots of America’s Favorite Cherry
Ah Bing is responsible for cultivating America’s most produced variety of cherry, but racism and the Chinese Exclusionary Act prevented him from reaping the benefits of his creation.
The breathtaking courage of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave, a successful conductor in the Underground Railroad, a spy, and much more. Watch the video to learn more about the incredible life of an inspiration.
‘The Blood of Lynching Victims Is in This Soil.’
The Emancipation Proclamation may have freed slaves, but many former slaves and their descendants still faced hatred and brutality in the form of lynching. Read how one museum aims to preserve the memory of these victims.
Documentary explores US exclusion of Chinese in the 1800s
American immigration policy has always been a contentious issue. Read this article, which details a history of exclusionary actions against Chinese immigrants, to gain a better understanding of America’s tumultuous past.
A Time of Reckoning
What happened after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued? Learn about the various organizations formed and laws passed to help transition African Americans out of slavery, and consider how successful those efforts were.
How technology and capitalism shaped America after the civil war
A critic from The Economist magazine reviews The Republic for Which It Stands, in which author Richard White outlines the politics and economics of the United States following the Civil War.
Did the Civil War Achieve Equality? Stephen Kantrowitz’s ‘More Than Freedom’
Critic Herschthal reviews historian Stephen Kantrowitz’s 2012 book about the abolitionist leaders who fought for more than just the end of slavery before and after the Civil War.
Blacks, Baseball, and the Civil War
In this account of baseball history, read about black ball clubs’ interactions with white ball clubs and how the players fought for more equality on and off the field.
In His Own Words: Remembering Poet Robert Hayden
Read about poet Robert Hayden and listen to him recite part of one of his most famous poems.